As gamers spend an increasing amount of time with their favorite titles, a new study analyzes how consumers’ playtime is split among genres.

The report, from in-game advertising platform Anzu, finds that sports gamers’ sessions are 2.1 times longer than those of players across other genres.

The average sports gamer’s session lasts around 6.1 minutes compared to just 2.9 minutes in other games.

Racing, simulation, and action gamers’ sessions trailed closely behind those of sports gamers.

Report Highlights

Anzu hopes its first advertising trends report gives game developers a closer look at players’ habits, including peak engagement times.

By analyzing how players’ in-game time is spent, Anzu says companies can ramp up revenue by capitalizing on moments when gamers are most engaged.

The report expands on three key points:

Optimizing Q4 Revenue: Q4 generates premium CPMs driven by advertiser spend spikes. Developers should plan in-game events around major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas to drive player engagement and ad revenue.

Maximizing US & European Audiences: US and European gamers command significantly higher CPMs. Growing player bases in these regions will directly increase revenue potential.

Leveraging Real-World Events: Sports and racing games connected to real-world events (e.g., championships, races) can drive heightened engagement and advertising revenue, particularly through sponsorship extensions.

“Game developers of all sizes need additional effective monetization solutions to manage increasing production costs and continue providing a premium experience to their players,” says Guy Ben-Dov, EVP Supply & Revenue Operations at Anzu. “This report equips developers with actionable, timely insights into player behavior and advertising trends, helping them maximize revenue more effectively.

With growing interest in gaming, Anzu’s report underscores untapped advertising opportunities.

Nearly 30% of adults in the United States play video games for anywhere from 1 to 5 hours weekly.

Of self-identifying U.S.-based gamers, 25% play for 6-10 hours, while 8% report they log in over 20 hours weekly.

Younger players spend more time logged in; those aged 18 to 24 average around 12 in-game hours per week, while those 45 and older report playing for about 5 hours per week.

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